Dugongs in Thailand are currently at risk of extinction as fatalities of the aquatic mammals continue to increase over the past few years.

Kasetsart University's marine ecologist Thon Thamrongnawasawat has called for Thai people to preserve dugongs, saying that the population of the mammals has been dropping every year due to a decline in seagrass, habitat loss, hunting, marine pollution and plastic waste.

A report by the Seub Nakhasathien Foundation indicated that 273 dugongs were spotted in 2022. But 18 of them had died and been washed ashore in the same year, mostly after getting hit by hard objects.

The dugong is one of four living species of the order Sirenia, which also includes three species of manatees.

Dugongs have historically provided easy targets for hunters, who killed them for their meat, oil, skin and bones. It is now the only living representative of the once-diverse family Dugongidae. Its closest modern relative, the Steller's sea cow, was hunted to extinction in the 18th century.

The species is found in 40 countries and territories worldwide but classified as "vulnerable" on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's red list of threatened species.

In Southeast Asia, dugongs inhabit coastal waters near Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, with populations ranging from a few hundred to around a thousand individuals in each country.

Dugongs also feature in Southeast Asian folklore. They are often considered the inspiration for mermaids and people around the world developed cultures around dugong hunting.

In languages like Ilocano, Mapun, Yakan, Tausug and Kadazandusun of the Philippines and Sabah, the name for dugongs is a synonym for "mermaid".

Dugongs became a hot topic among Thai people in 2019 when two orphaned baby dugongs, Mariam and Yamil, died. Despite several agencies' efforts in preserving dugongs, the preserved species' death rate has not declined.

Dugongs have also been dubbed "sea cows", thanks to their pivotal role in maintaining seagrass fields, which play an important role in offering homes for other marine species, preventing coastal erosion and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The mammal can consume about 35 kilograms of seagrass a day, while its stool becomes fertilizer for feeding grounds. The stool can also contain seagrass seeds that help restore the marine ecosystem.

Climate change and human activities were among the causes of dugong deaths impacting the marine ecosystem. Data from the Department of Marine in Thailand and Coastal Resources indicated that 90 percent of dugong deaths occurred as they were caught in fishing gear.

Dugongs, sea turtles and saltwater fish are among victims of plastic waste. Though humans are seeking ways to reduce waste as much as possible, 80 percent of marine waste items have been recorded to originate from ashore.

An increasing number of countries are enhancing community engagement in conservation efforts and launching public awareness programs amid the challenges facing dugongs.

India established the country's first conservation reserve of its kind for dugongs in 2022 to enhance the entire marine ecosystem.

Australia, the largest habitat for dugongs, also made significant investments in conserving those living in the Great Barrier Reef.

The Nation, Thailand